ABSTRACT
Many patients who present to the coronary care unit (CCU) have underlying coronary heart disease (CHD). This is a broad term that refers to the effects of the atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries (De Backer et al. 2003). Patients presenting to CCU with acute coronary syndromes initially require nursing focusing on prevention of hazards to human life and maintaining sufficient intake of air. These actions involve providing physical support to individuals, which wholly or partially compensates for the individual’s usual self-care. As the individual’s condition improves and they gradually returns to self-care, nursing care augments recovery through supportive-educative actions. This involves teaching and guidance to raise the patient’s awareness of the effects and results of his or her condition, to enable them to carry out medically prescribed measures and to adopt a lifestyle that promotes health.
